Mother's worst fear: Buried body is that of 14-year-old boy

Police sources said they believe an older friend of a 14-year-old boy shot and killed him, then buried his body.

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

A mother's worst fear has been realized.

The Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed that it was her son found mostly buried in a dirt pile on a vacant lot near the Kirktown Apartments in south Kansas City.

Montee Ross, 14, had been missing since Sunday. He was last seen with an older friend.

Classmates, friends and family members pleaded for those with knowledge about Montee's death to come forward.

His family's quest for answers led them to the apartment complex Wednesday morning where police found Montee's hand sticking out from the dirt.

About 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, police went to the apartment complex at Longview Road and Richmond Avenue on reports of the missing boy. His family had told officers they believed the older friend lived at the complex, and comments on social media and at a school had led them to the apartment complex.

Rumors have been flying about how Montee died and whether it was an accident and his scared friends covered it up or if he was murdered. Police say Montee's death is considered the city's 30th homicide, but have not said how he was killed.

"He still had a life to live. He was a little kid," his mother, Alicia Temple, said Wednesday.

Family members tell KCTV5 the boy was last seen on Sunday when he and his brother had gone to the store. The two brothers then parted ways and the boy left with a friend who is not well known to the family and lives at the apartments.

Police weren't initially sure whether Montee had run away or not.

But his mother had no doubt that her son was in danger, especially after she and others couldn't get straight answers from those inside the apartment.

"I just knew something wasn't right," Temple said.

Police sources initially indicated that an older brother had shot his younger brother, but police have clarified this as the investigation has proceeded. Police are looking into whether the older friend shot the boy and buried him behind the complex.

Shortly before 2 p.m. Wednesday, police executed a search warrant at the apartment. They've taken an unknown number of people in for questioning. At least two teens were questioned Wednesday morning, according to police.

On Wednesday, some family members said they believed the body was that of their missing loved one and were just waiting for the official confirmation. Wednesday, Temple still had faith.

"I'm just staying strong and I'm just trusting that everything is going to be OK," Temple said. "Even if it's not, it's going to be OK."

Police said they don't have any suspects currently in custody, but detectives are following up on leads. They continue to investigate and ask anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.